Wesley Vaughn’s column in Wednesday’s issue of The Crimson White – “High-dy Tide-y dumb almighty” – is filled with a number of concerns about the High Tide Program that we would like to address. As the authors of the resolution that established the program, we want to both encourage students to participate and answer their questions.
The High Tide Program was established because the portion of student seating in the new upper deck of Bryant-Denny Stadium was created on a “use it or lose it” policy. It was under this policy that the Student Government Association decided to encourage students to use it, so that it will be available to them in years to come as enrollment continues to expand.
We knew from the beginning that most students don’t want to sit in the upper deck, and that students will be separated from friends if congestion in the lower bowl is not addressed.
Therefore, we decided to create special incentives for students who chose to join the High Tide Club. That way, students who chose to sacrifice their proximity to the field by forgoing seats in the lower bowl will be able to enjoy other conveniences. As a result, sitting in the upper deck is not a lose-lose proposition.
We both worked with a broad cross-section of SGA officials in establishing this program. One of us is a member of a greek organization; the other is not. We collaborated together to form a policy that is fair to everyone. We understand some may view this as a contrived alternative to the “student organization seating” section. As members of different communities on campus, we can assure you that is not the intent of the program.
High Tide was created without regards to the Student Organization Seating reforms. Student Organization Seating is handled by another branch of the SGA, and we did not participate in forming that policy. Our goal was simply to make student seating in the upper deck as luxurious as possible for those who sit there.
We believe we have made considerable progress in reaching that goal. For the cost of $10, students can join a club that offers a number of perks. Those perks include an express gate into Bryant-Denny that, for anyone who has attempted to battle the lines before kickoff, is a priceless commodity. Members will also receive T-shirts, concession coupons for every game and seat backs in a reserved area.
Concessions alone can easily cost over $10 at every game. By joining the High Tide Club, students get a free coupon for every home game this entire season.
This program is not for everyone. However, for that busy fan who may have to show up late on game day or for a student family with young kids, this program could mean everything. It can mean showing up and not having to fight into a stadium only to be squeezed into something barely called a seat. It can mean saving money on concessions. It is a “new way to experience Alabama football,” but it is not a replacement to the experience you already know and love. It is not the only form of student seating now available, it is just one more option we are providing students eager to cheer the Tide on through another winning season.
We co-authored the resolution appropriating funds for this program, and this Saturday we will be sitting in the High Tide Club. Though the Facebook fan page may have less than 250 members, the program has had almost 900 students sign up, which is near its capacity. Those students clearly appreciate this option, so why shouldn’t we give it to them?
If we had it our way, every student would be able to sit in the lower bowl. However, given the continuing expansion of the student body and the skyrocketing pride among our fan base, that is simply not a practical option.
The funds we spent on High Tide will be covered by the membership fee, and, by current projections, will become a profitable source of revenue for the SGA that will be used to fund more scholarships. In short, it is a win-win for students and a win-win for student government. So please, if you believe this program is right for you, sign up. Please also continue to give us your feedback and share with us your concerns, so we will know how to best serve your needs as we continue to reassess options for student seating throughout this season and in the future.
Ryan Flamerich and Sophie Santos are members of the SGA Senate who authored the resolution creating the High Tide Club.
